POSTED BY Jessica Gray
Over the past ten years, there have been numerous exceptional achievements in the world of technology and digital communications. However, one might argue that the most influential development was the creation of Facebook. The social media powerhouse has brought interconnectivity to millions of people and has sparked a social revolution. However, rather than sitting on its previous successes, Facebook is addressing the fact that two-thirds of the world’s population still do not have Internet access. In recognizing this issue, Facebook has developed a new plan to spread Wi-Fi Internet to unconnected parts of the world through drones.
In March of 2014, Facebook formed the Connectivity Lab which, coupled with Facebook’s Internet.org, created a team that works on new technologies in order to improve and extend internet access. Facebook acquired drone maker Ascenta, whose solar-powered drones potentially have the ability to fly 65,000 feet in the air for months or years at a time. Facebook plans to test one of the drones in the United States by 2015 with hopes to bring the project to the skies in three to five years.
On September 22, 2014, Yael Maguire, Facebook Connectivity Lab engineering direction, spoke about the social network’s plans to use drones to help bring connectivity to developing parts of the world. Maguire objected to the notion that the solar-powered unmanned aircraft to be used are drones, but rather clarified that they are “planes.” He explained that these planes will be about the size of a 747 aircraft, although weighing much less.
Despite having extensive resources at Facebook, Maguire recognizes that they will have to overcome various operational, technical and regulatory hurdles. In order to fly these drones, or planes, for months or years at time, Facebook will have to make them fly anywhere from 60,000 to 90,000 feet in the air, which is above weather and all airspace. All regulations on aircraft that fly above 60,000 feet in the air fall within the rules for satellites. Further, Facebook must find a way around regulations that require there to be one human operator to every drone. Maguire highlights the need for a regulatory environment that will allow one pilot to manage up to 100 drones.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) hopes to draft new drone guidelines by the end of 2014. Currently, there are essentially no regulations on aircraft above flying above 60,000 feet. Facebook will have to propose new legislation in order to lawfully have its plan go forward. As Maguire mentioned, for now Facebook is relying on satellite regulations. If the FAA categorizes Facebook’s “planes” as drones and drafts new guidelines that discuss regulations of drones above 60,000 feet, Facebook will have a more clear-cut area of law to which it can tailor its project. If the FAA decides that there must be one human operator to every drone above 60,000 feet, Facebook’s goal for a global connection among humans will be dramatically narrowed. It is crucial that regulations be updated in order for Facebook’s plan to reach its full potential.
The FAA will most certainly take safety issues into consideration when drafting its new drone guidelines. If it does not require every drone 60,000 feet in the air to have a human pilot, it may limit this rule to only applying to drones of a certain size. There is a perceived risk of numerous drones the size of 747 aircrafts flying in the sky without pilots. Even though Facebook’s drones would be flying above commercial airspace, there is still concern that potential crashes of drones with each other could harmfully affect aircrafts flying below in the commercial airspace. The idea of having one person in charge of 100 drones of that size is cause for concern. The FAA will have to analyze the risks and advantages of Facebook’s plan and ultimately may end up creating regulations that force the social network to retreat and revise its plan in order to go forward. A balance test must be struck between the benefits of Facebook’s plan to essentially unite the world through internet connectivity and the safety concerns with regards to regulating airspace.
Blogger bio: Jessica is a Staff Member of the Journal of High Technology Law. She is currently a 2L at Suffolk Law and graduated from Wheaton College (MA) with a B.A. in sociology.
